If someone gives you an extravagent or unexpected gift or does you a really big favor, it's もったいない. If you drop your bottle of scotch and spill it everywhere, it's もったいない. Serving the good scotch to an alcoholic who drinks Vat 69, it's もったいない. Swaguchi Yasuko with any man but me, it's もったいない.

Tony

I think "what a waste" works for all of these except the first one. (The first one is easily understandable as an extension of "what a waste" used for polite effect, but "what a waste" would never be used in that situation in English.)

If someone gives you an extravagent or unexpected gift or does you a really big favor, it's もったいない. If you drop your bottle of scotch and spill it everywhere, it's もったいない. Serving the good scotch to an alcoholic who drinks Vat 69, it's もったいない. Swaguchi Yasuko with any man but me, it's もったいない.

Tony

I think "what a waste" works for all of these except the first one. (The first one is easily understandable as an extension of "what a waste" used for polite effect, but "what a waste" would never be used in that situation in English.)

Tony's first one is an humble language used from Samurai era to Edo period. Some people may still use it, though.

Oh, my Lord, what a waste of you because I am too mean to deserve such favor.
(It must be unnatural as an English discourse.)

You're right, as I think of it, as in most cases I'd translate it in terms of "outrageous!" or "incredibly (negative connotation) ---!" But for some reason, とんでもない strikes me as more common to hear in Japanese than "outrageous!" does in English.

Perhaps if I *had* associated it earlier with the somewhat slangy "no way," I never would have had that impression. Hm. I think you may be right about that one.

hiwa wrote:
>Outrageous is a word of grandiose for English speakers, isn't it?

Used to be. Then it got to be used by a lot of the same people who use "like" as an interjection & who overuse the word "totally".

So now they're saying things like "That's, like, so totally outrageous."

And "outrageous" gets used by teenage boys a lot when they've just done some stupid stunt that risks their necks for the sole purpose of showing off. In that kind of usage its meaning isn't the dictionary meaning (1--involving or doing great injury or wrong 2--very offensive or shocking 3--violent in action or disposition). It's a compliment meaning something's impressive.

Last edited by lalaith on Thu 04.19.2007 11:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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